Collapsible enclosure and suspension

Abstract

A system including an enclosure and a suspension assembly is described. The enclosure includes a first housing section, a second housing section, and a joint link pivotably coupling the first housing section to the second housing section. The joint link couples the housing sections about pivot axes such that the housing sections are movable between an axially aligned operational position and a folded storage position in which the housing sections lie alongside one another. The suspension assembly includes a first end configured to couple to an aerial vehicle and a second end configured to couple to the enclosure. The suspension assembly is configured to be torsion-resistant.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an enclosure configured to house a sensor or transmission device, wherein the enclosure includes a first housing section and a second housing section and a joint link pivotably coupling the first housing section to the second housing section about pivot axes such that the first housing section and the second housing section are movable between an axially aligned operational position and a folded storage position in which the first housing section and the second housing section lie alongside one another; and   a suspension assembly having a first end configured to couple to an aerial vehicle and a second end configured to couple to the enclosure, wherein the suspension assembly is configured to be torsion-resistant.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch releasably securing the first housing section and the second housing section in the axially aligned operational position. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a retention member releasably securing the first housing section and the second housing section in the folded storage position. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension assembly is a pendulous rod. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension assembly is pivotable about two axes. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension assembly comprises a plurality of elongated rigid links disposed end-to-end. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the suspension assembly further comprises a plurality of hinge joints serially interconnecting adjacent links of the plurality of elongated rigid links, wherein each hinge joint of the plurality of hinge joints defines a single rotation axis and successive rotation axes are oriented substantially orthogonally to one another such that the suspension assembly is foldable into a compact tessellated package. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each hinge joint of the plurality of hinge joints comprises a rotation-limiting surface restricting relative angular displacement between the adjacent links. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the compact tessellated package fits between the aerial vehicle and the ground while the aerial vehicle is in a grounded state. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of fasteners hold the compact tessellated package together. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the suspension assembly comprises a keyed male inserter. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein an end of the enclosure comprises a complementarily keyed female receiver. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the enclosure comprises at least one spring-biased locking pin mounted to the complementarily keyed female receiver and automatically engageable with a locking aperture in the keyed male inserter upon insertion of the keyed male inserter into the complementarily keyed female receiver in a specific orientation. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the enclosure comprises at least one manually actuatable slider mounted to the enclosure and operatively connected to the at least one spring-biased locking pin to withdraw the at least one spring-biased locking pin from the locking aperture to permit removal of the keyed male inserter. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the enclosure comprises at least one spring configured to oppose insertion of the keyed male inserter into the complementarily keyed female receiver. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible cable, wherein the suspension assembly includes an internal channel for the flexible cable. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the flexible cable electrically connects the enclosure and the aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the suspension assembly is foldable into a compact tessellated package and the internal channel is configured to allow for bending of the flexible cable. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein tension of the bending of the flexible cable assists in unfolding the suspension assembly, dampens swinging oscillations and/or increases its unfolded rigidity. 
     
     
         20 . A system, comprising:
 an aerial vehicle; and   a sensing system coupled to the aerial vehicle, the sensing system comprising:
 an enclosure configured to house a sensor or transmission device, wherein the enclosure includes a first housing section and a second housing section and a joint link pivotably coupling the first housing section to the second housing section about pivot axes such that the first housing section and the second housing section are movable between an axially aligned operational position and a folded storage position in which the first housing section and the second housing section lie alongside one another; and 
 a suspension assembly having a first end configured to couple to the aerial vehicle and a second end configured to couple to the magnetometer enclosure, wherein the suspension assembly is configured to be torsion-resistant. 
   
     
     
         21 . A suspension assembly, comprising:
 a first end configured to be coupled to an aerial vehicle; and   a second end configured to be coupled to an enclosure, wherein the suspension assembly is configured to be torsion-resistant.   
     
     
         22 . The suspension assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the suspension assembly is a pendulous rod. 
     
     
         23 . The suspension assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the suspension assembly is pivotable about two axes. 
     
     
         24 . The suspension assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the suspension assembly comprises a plurality of elongated rigid links disposed end-to-end. 
     
     
         25 . The suspension assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of hinge joints serially interconnecting adjacent links of the plurality of elongated rigid links, wherein each hinge joint of the plurality of hinge joints defines a single rotation axis and successive rotation axes are oriented substantially orthogonally to one another such that the suspension assembly is foldable into a compact tessellated package. 
     
     
         26 . The suspension assembly of  claim 25 , wherein each hinge joint of the plurality of hinge joints comprises a rotation-limiting surface restricting relative angular displacement between the adjacent links. 
     
     
         27 . The suspension assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the compact tessellated package fits between the aerial vehicle and the ground while the aerial vehicle is in a grounded state. 
     
     
         28 . The suspension assembly of  claim 25 , wherein a plurality of fasteners hold the compact tessellated package together. 
     
     
         29 . The suspension assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the second end of the suspension assembly comprises a keyed male inserter. 
     
     
         30 . The suspension assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising an internal channel for a flexible cable.